Collapsible table



Nov. 22, 1938. w. B. cRAlcsKl-LMDv l 2,137,229

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Filed sept. 17, 19s?A Patented Nov. 422, 1938 UNI-TED STATES orri including a checker-board field o-n the top surface.

Figt-2 is "an enlarged bottomview of Figsl showing the legs foldedyatandthe rotatable under brace member for the-table top ,sections swung `partly out-of bracing position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of Fig. 2 modified to showl the'legs set up and thejboard bracing andholding means `in operative position.

Fig. l4 is `an edge viewof 'thetablecollapsed looking as inthe directiongindicated by arrow 4 irrr'igfz.y

Fig. -5 is an end View of the table valmost com-V pletelycollapsed as it would be seen from the brottomvedge of Fig. v2.

Fig. Y6 is a detail view of a modified form" of tableleg whichis sectional. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the; tableV set up with the 4sljlortened typeof legs.

Referring to the drawing by reference nuf -meralsylike characters `designating corresponding parts in theyariousviews: My table lcomprises --a multi-leaf top including two center sections I and 2, hinged together as at 3 to break downwardly from original position.

l and 5 are opposite outer top sections or leaves hingedly connected at their inner edgesrespectively to the outer edges of the center Vsections l and 2, as at 6, to break upwardly, said hinges being on the under side of the table top. The outer leaves 4 and 5 are necessarily Wider than the center sections I and 2 to enable folding of the latter between the outer sections and provide clearance inwardly of the free edgesl of sections 4 and 5 where the table legs and oonnected parts are collapsed and lie against the under side of said parts.

'l and 8 Adesignate two pairs of corresponding legs each pivotally mounted near a corner of the table top at its under side. The legs- 'I are pivotally mounted at 9 at diagonally opposite corners of thetable'eachto a'n end part of -a rib orV box flange member IIlV secured one to the under side Of, each outer 1eaf,.. .4-5 ,para1 lelto and nspaed relation inwardly ptits-free edge. Said flanges Ill compriseA ,two ornthe 'four sides ofja *quad- Vrangulfa1: gboxeframeT on they under side lof the table top the other two, sides of which comprise a pair ofcorrespondinganges I I' but Lwhich are hinged'asatingto'an end part'of a flange Ill @opposite fromthe.. hinge 9, to swing each parallel thereto'and fromv thence outwardly to right angles withrelation to its flange Y I0 and each having means `for securing its lfree end in proximity togangend of the opposite flange I0 at whicha leg] `is pivoted. j

'Y InFig; 3 the further flange III ris positioned while 'the-nearer .one is 'shown in 'position about to 'beiixed with' its free end ,near ,the rightv hand fixed flaurigalll.v l

"Thediagonally'opposite"legs 8 are each pivotallyV connected at I3 to the hinged end part of 'a flange II andwhen the' table is to be collapsed lor set up eachglegf'lies at inner side of and close tojandparallel'j witha flange- IU V(Fig. 2). Simultaneously the other pair of legs .'I lie each parallel^toag-ange I'at outer side of the latter.

Each leg is connected toits ladjacent box flange `preferably fby a so-oalledfand well known kneebrace I4; ipe. legs A4Ijeachhave such a brace con- :necting it with the adjacent xed flange I0 in suchmanner that I When the leg is swung upwardly toA right; angularposition relative to the top boardsthe'Aknee v brace is positioned angularly to hold theleg Y in-said positionbut may be broken 'upwardly` to enablefthe leg-tobe` folded and lie flat-againstthetop *board and parallel to-the .flange I0. The corresponding knee-braces'IIIfor the legs 8 are connected each as at ISA to the adjacent swingable box flange II (see Fig. 3).

- short main leg sections with their prongs I'I directed Vdownwardly may be placed on the ground G (Fig. '7)V the prongs pushed into the ground as shown and the table is rigidly set up With its top about l5 or 18 inches (approximately) over the ground, a desirable feature for picnic lunches when persons may be seated on the ground around the table. In other Words the full length legs provide for a table of normal height and the shorter legs for purposes such as just described or for use of children.

In Fig. l the top area of the table is shown with a central checker board field I8.

I9 in Figs. 2 and 3 designates a pivoted brace bar at the under side of the board, pivoted as at 20 as near as possible to the center line (between panels I and 2). When the table is folded up this bar must lie parallel to said center line as;

shown dotted in Fig. 2. However, when the table is to be set up and the top sections have been opened and put in a commonplane, the brace is swung on its pivot to a position transversely of the top panels and its opposite ends engage in notches or cut-outs I C of the opposite fixed box fianges I0. Obviously when this brace bar I9 is in its bracing position as shown in Fig. 3, the entire table top is rigidly braced at its under side. y

In Fig. 3 is best shown a metal bracket 22 fixed to the under side of the table boards 4-5 one to each board at diagonally opposite corners and adjacent the `pivot end of the legs T. This brace comprises in part a rigid flange or inward projection 22F extending inwardly parallel Vto the under side of the table top. The free end part of each box-flange II vis slitted longitudinally (Fig. 3) said slitted partto slidably engage the flange 22F of bracket 22 outwardly when the flange I I is to be positioned at right angles to the adjacent fianges I I).v 'I'he flange 22F then projects inwardly of flange II and exposing an aperture 23 and arranged to be engaged, removably, by a hook 24 pivotally mounted at the inner side of flange I I adjacent its slit thusholding the box flange I I in bracing positionbutvery readily disconnected. t y

To collapse a table for shipping or storage purposes, the brace I9 is rst put in dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, then the hooks 24 are disengaged, then the legs 8 are folded or swung toward the under side of the top to lie parallel to their respective anges 'I I. Each'V flange II. and its leg 8 are then swung over to lie parallel to the ange Ill to which the dual parallel members are hingedly connected at I2.

Then the legs I are foldedY down to lie parallel each to the outer side of the adjacent xed flange I0. Then the center panels I-2 are foldedinwardly between the outer panels 4 5, as in Fig. 5 and said latter parts 4-5 pressed toward each other to inclose all the parts described between them.

The entire device when thus folded occupies a minimum of space, a standard size card table when thus folded comprising a package only about 3 inches thick, 32 inches long and 10 inches wide. The folded device obviously can be easily transported in a motor car, or stored in a closet or other convenient space.

The use of my collapsible table has been fully disclosed simultaneously with the description of itsV construction. It will be readily understood however that various modifications as-to details of structure and proportions of parts may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the top panels may be of so-called ply-board, Prest-wood or any other material of suitable strength and preferably of light weight. Also, theextensible legs may be of tubular telescopic construction or any other mechanical equivalent.

I claim:

1. In a foldable table of the class described having a top formed of two like central panels and two wider outer panels all hinged together edge to edge to enable folding of the rst two upon each other and the latter two upon the folded inner. Y panels; a fixed longitudinal box ange parallel to the outer free edge of each outer panel lat its under side, a leg pivotally connected to one endvv part of each said box flange and arranged to liealong the outer face of the flange, a combinavtionfleg and flange member pivotally secured to leg member of said combination member adapted to be swung up to position at right angles to the under side of the sectional table top. 2. The structure specified in claim l, in which lsaid means for holding the free end of the swingable flange consists of the provision of a slit in thefree end thereof, a flat metal clip fixed to the under side of the table top and formed with a fiat offset flange in the path of and straddled by said slitted part of the swingable ange member,

said offset flange provided with an aperture exposed inwardly of the flange when the latter is in outer position and a hook pivotally mounted on the inner face of said swingable flange to engage in said aperture. Y

WALTER B. CRAIGI-IEAD. 

